Liverpool manager Arne Slot has acknowledged that his side found it difficult to break down Manchester United’s defensive setup following their 2–1 loss at Anfield on Sunday.
Speaking to Match of the Day after the game, Slot admitted that United’s compact, deep-lying defence and reliance on long balls made it hard for his team to impose their attacking rhythm.
The visitors struck first within the opening minute through Bryan Mbeumo’s quick finish, putting Liverpool on the back foot early on. Although Cody Gakpo equalised in the second half, Harry Maguire’s header later restored United’s advantage, sealing all three points for Erik ten Hag’s men.
The defeat leaves Liverpool four points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal after eight matches.
“It is always difficult to play against a team that defends in a low block and mainly plays the long ball,” Slot said. “It makes it even more difficult when you go one down after one minute while one of our players is on the floor.
“If you had told me before the game that we would create as many chances as we did against such a setup, I wouldn’t have expected us to lose,” the Dutchman continued. “But that’s football — we had enough opportunities to score more than once, yet we conceded two goals, one of them from a set piece.”
Liverpool will look to bounce back from the defeat when they face Brighton in their next league fixture.
